We’re sorry to report that Joey Dunlop MBE OBE was killed last Sunday in
a racing accident in the former Soviet state of Estonia. Apparently the
conditions were very wet and he was killed instantly in the 125cc event.

Dunlop, 48, began his race career in 1969. He was a legendary
performer at the Isle of Man TT event, where he won 26 TTs, the first in
1977. Affectionately known as Yer Maun, the part-time Irish publican also
won five Formula 1 world championships between 1980 and 1988. He is survived
by a wife and five children.

Joey was famous for his charity work, often loading up his van
in the off-season and delivering locally-supplied aid to Romania and more
recently Kosovo. He was arrested and even shot at during these escapades,
but always made the delivery.

There is talk of holding a Dunlop tribute night in Melbourne
in the near future, and we’ll let you know of further news.

A British
web site has put up a virtual tour of the Triumph factory ? try the following
link.
<http://www.madaboutbikes.com/news/article.asp?news_id=74>

A team
of Italians has set a bunch of new endurance and speed records on a mildly
modified Suzuki Hayabusa at the Nardo speed bowl. The most impressive is
a 250kmh average over 12 hours.

Suzuki
has launched its new 1200 Bandit overseas, with two models - the 1200 naked
bike and an S model with a bikini fairing. UK MCN (<http://www.motorcyclenews.com/home/index.asp>)
has shown this pic of the bike. Apparently it runs new carburetion and
cam timing, plus air injection. The wheelbase is 5mm shorter, seat height
considerably lower, while there’s a new set of six-piston brakes up front.
Early ride reports say it’s a good thing.

GP team
Proton Roberts has confirmed that Australian Anthony Gobert will be riding
the recently redeveloped KR3 at this weekend’s British GP.

"We're excited," said Team Owner Kenny Roberts, himself a former
three-times World
Champion.

"We're developing our new bike during the racing season, and
it was always our intention to put a top-level rider on it as soon as we
had the teething troubles ironed out, and had two bikes built, so that
he could have a pair in the pits.

"We know Anthony rides anything pretty hard, and we also know
that Donington Park is a good type of circuit for our motorcycle. At the
same time, the latest version is developing fast, with the best-yet combination
of horsepower and handling.

"It's a good opportunity for him to show us ? and everybody else
- what our new bike is capable of doing," Roberts concluded.

"I'd like to prove to Team Roberts that it'd be worth sticking
me on the bike for the rest of the season," Gobert added.

Lead
Yamaha world superbike rider Noriyuki Haga has lost his appeal against
doping charge in an FIM judgement that listed it as "acceptable but not
well founded". He has lost his points and prizemoney from the South Africa
round and faces a three-week suspension. The latter puts him out of action
for the USA round at Laguna Seca.

From Kai Tiffany in the USA:
"You guys have GOT to visit the following web pages of a Japanese company
that does custom Hondas; "V-PER" they call themselves (see links below).
This company's stylists have really got it going on! Whew!

On the other hand, their English stinks; the company's name, "V-PER",
stands
for "Vibrated Performance". Eh?

On their used bike page, they have a customized 1997 Suzuki Volty 250
that they call a "SUPER DUNG". And what about their...1998 Monky Goose,
1997 Skid-Scud, 1993 Gray-Fellow, 1992 Killi-Fish.

Who makes up names like these for motorcycles that they intend on selling
to the public?! On the other hand, the bodywork they've made up is
stunning...